DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sue Thomas FBeye or any of its characters, so if you recognize a person from this program or any other (I might put in a cameo here and there), know that I do not own them at all. All scenarios and people that you do not recognize, I own that, though they might be inspired from something else, but in no way is it copying them. If I am missing something in this copyright notice, please let me know!

KEY: Italics are a memory, and all caps is ASL. Sorry, some of my ASL grammar is bad. I only know some ASL, so if anyone knows how to properly say any sentences I write in ASL, please let me know, and I will change it to be how it should be!

TRIVIA: What's 20 years? Clue; it's an American tragedy that literally changed the entire world.

?-?

"So now you're their parents?" Lucy concluded through the FaceTime call.

"Well, almost." Sue replied. She had just told her friend of the story of how Mellody and Chris came to live with her and Jack. "The adoption won't be finalized for a little while, but essentially, yes."

Her friend smiled. "That's wonderful! Mark and I will have to come down with the kids to officially welcome you to parenthood!"

She laughed. "Any time I get to see you in person is a good day!" She said, then looked away from the screen to look at the kids finishing up breakfast. "I have to get going. It's Mellody's first day of school today."

"Not that I want to go." Mellody muttered as she brought her cereal bowl to the sink.

"So late? It's almost the middle of September!" Lucy exclaimed.

"It's only a week into September and you know it. Once we got approval for them to live with us, I contacted the school. Once all that paperwork was finished, it was this week. That's why she starts today."

"Ah. OK, well, I won't keep you. Talk to you soon!" She replied, waving.

"Bye!" Sue said, then hung up. Turning to the girl, she smiled. "Why don't you go put on your sweater and shoes, then wait for me at the front door with your brand new, shimmery backpack?"

She regretfully nodded. "The backpack's the best part." She grumbled as she walked out of the kitchen, grabbed the magenta sequin backpack from the steps, then put on her shoes.

Sue sighed as she stared in Mellody's wake. There was nothing she could do to cheer her up, save for getting ice cream after the day was done. She looked down when she felt a tugging on her pant leg.

"Can I come with to say goodbye to Mellody too?" Chris asked.

"Of course!" She replied, smiling. "I think she'd really like that. Why don't you go ask your sister to help you put on your shoes while I go say goodbye to Jack?"

He happily smiled as he ran to his sister.

She smiled as she slowly trailed behind, turning to go up the stairs. She found her husband in their bedroom, staring at himself in the mirror, his tie half tied on. "Is something wrong?" She asked, frowning at the sight.

"Huh? No, not really." He replied, startled into finishing his tie.

"Here, let me help." She softly replied, walking up to him to fix the tie.

"Thanks," he quietly replied as she gently positioned the tie into place.

"So what's wrong?" She asked once she finished.

He took in a deep breath, then let it out. "It's 20 years ago on Saturday."

"So it is." She replied, remembering.

"REACT HOW, DON'T KNOW." Jack signed.

"ME TOO." She replied. "HAVE IDEA." He raised his eyebrows in response. "PRAY."

"PERFECT IDEA." He signed, then took her hands. "Dear Lord, we don't know what to say, but keep us all safe and help us remember all our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, cousins and friends we lost on that day. Their lives will forever be burned in our hearts. Amen."

Sue's eyes were so filled with tears from his prayer, she couldn't even see the 'amen'. Nonetheless, she understood it all the same. When he let go, she quickly wiped her tears away. "We're leaving to drop Mellody off at school. I knew you'd be gone, so I thought I'd say goodbye now." She said, quickly changing the subject.

He nodded, then kissed her check. "See you later."

She quickly nodded, then turned to go back downstairs.

Mellody frowned when she saw Sue's red eyes as she came down the stairs. "Is something wrong?"

She quickly smiled, trying to hide her tears. "No, everything's fine. You guys ready to go?"

She suspiciously nodded, then the three of them left to go to school.

?-?

"Ah! Here we are!" Sue exclaimed, finding Mellody's classroom, Chris holding tightly to Sue's hand. She smiled at the frowning girl as they entered. "Hi!" She exclaimed, seeing the teacher. "I'm Sue. This is Mellody." She said, nodding towards the girl, Chris now holding on with both hands.

The teacher smiled, then knelt down next to Mellody. "Hi, Mellody! I'm excited to have you in my class. Would you like to meet your classmates?"

Mellody's frown turned into a look of awe when she saw a small cage in the back corner of the room. "You're allowed to have animals here?"

The teacher nodded. "It's a class pet. He's a hamster named Rodger."

She giggled. "Rodger? Who names a hamster Rodger?"

The teacher laughed too. "It was a former student's idea. He liked saying 'Rodger that!'" She replied, saluting to emphasize the quote.

She laughed, still staring in the direction of Rodger the hamster.

"Would you like to meet Rodger, maybe hold him?"

She quickly looked at Sue, then turned to the teacher and nodded quickly. The teacher stood up and took her hand, leading her to the cage. Before she turned away completely, she looked at Sue and smiled and winked. "Maybe this time will be different!" She happily exclaimed as she skipped off to see the hamster.

Sue smiled at the sight, but felt pulling on her pant leg. She found Chris sadly staring up at her.

"Will I have to stay here too? I don't like it."

She shook her head as she led him out of the room. "No. Next year, though, you can start kindergarten."

"What's that?" He asked as they walked down the busy elementary school hallway.

"Oh, it's something like 1st grade, but better."

"It is?" He asked excitedly.

She nodded. "You will have a lot of fun."

"Can we go there now?"

Sue chuckled. "No, unfortunately. We need to go home. I have to start working."

"Oh, OK." He sadly replied. "Tomorrow?" He hopefully asked.

She laughed as they crossed the parking lot. "Maybe."